fbpx

Interview: Eric Fishkin and the Staples Center

[additional-authors]
February 12, 2012

TGR got a hot tip from Rabbi Erez Sherman, one of the TGR correspondents. Eric Fishkin has all the scoop on the Staples center from the Lakers, Clippers, and the Pac 12 Tournament. Its going to be an awesome Jewish heritage night. Bring your Purim masks!

  1. Tell TGR a little bit about yourself.

    I graduated from North Carolina State University in 2010 with a B.S. in Sport Management and Business.  During school, I interned for Anschutz Entertainment Group, AEG, here in Los Angeles.  About a year and a half after graduation I realized this is where I want to be and what I want to do and was afforded the opportunity to come back and work in their sales department.  I now handle all events STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre, L.A. Live, and Home Depot Center.  It was just two months ago that I moved permanently to the Los Angeles area.  It is an unbelievable opportunity that I am very grateful to have received.

  2. How did you get involved with AEG?

    Look back at number 1 – I interned in the summer of 2008 and came back out around October of last year for an interview and the rest is history!

  3. What is the coolest thing you have seen at the Staples Center?

    The events.  My office is located in STAPLES Center and I am fortunate enough to see the court change to ice and vice versa.  When clients are in suites for different events, it is our job to be there and make sure they are doing well.  Never use it for personal use 🙂

  4. Obvious question. Lakers or Clippers fan? Who is better this year?

    I am actually new to the area and have a different perspective on this rivalry than most, however, I think I am a Clippers fan.  Clippers are better this year , although the loss of Billups might really hurt.

  5. Is Lob City that amazing in person?

    It is.  Watching Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and Chris Paul in person is pretty incredible.  It is great to see a fan base that has struggled for decades to have something to be proud of.  There are definitely the bandwagon fans that are coming out of the woodworks; however I am very happy for the true fans that have stood by the team.

  6. Whats going on at the Staples Center for Jewish heritage night?

    We are calling it Jewish Community night.  It is going to be an awesome event.  We have some of the biggest local cantors singing the National Anthem.  Cantor Nathan Lam from Stephen S. Wise, Cantor Arianne Brown froTemple Sinai, Cantor Don Gurney from Wilshire Blvd Temple, and Cantor Alison Wissot from Temple Judea.  There will be Kosher food available for purchase in the main concourse, and a Purim themed costume competition on the STAPLES Center roof (City View Terrace) before the game.  We will have fun group experiences, PA announcements, and Jewish Community specific discounts for the different organizations and families.  The event will be held on Thursday, March 8th for the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament Men’s Quarterfinals.

  7. What is it like hosting the Pac 12 tournament? Anything people should be aware of?

    I am still pretty new and not very familiar with the back end of things, however I do know we are working extremely hard to make this event a success.  Each school receives a certain allotment of tickets that they can distribute to their network of customers.  It is then our job to make sure the rest of the stadium is full and to create an atmosphere that is enjoyable for our fans.  This is why STAPLES Center, with the help of many local Jewish organizations created this night for the Jewish Community.  To not only make this night fun and exciting, but to build a relationship with the Jewish Community.

  8. Best thing Jewish about Los Angeles?

    The best thing about being Jewish in Los Angeles is the acceptance and the fact that there is such a large Jewish population.  Los Angeles as a whole and as a community is very diversified and tolerant.  This has nothing to do with religion, but the weather and people are amazing!

Thank you to Eric. If I was in LA you know I would be there.

And Let Us Say…Amen.

– Jeremy Fine

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.